Sorority hosts scholarship program

Published 8:58 pm Saturday, July 2, 2016

Participants in the debutante-beautillion were, front row from left: Jameson Wilkinson (Lakeland High School), Essence Frazier (Lakeland High School), Lakiaya Aponte (Lakeland High School), Sharnice Sherrod (Lakeland High School), JaQuan Yulee (Indian River High School). Back row from left: Adriana Johnson (Lloyd C. Byrd High School), Marianna Ricks (Lakeland High School), Alexis Brown (Lloyd C. Byrd High School), Breonna Penn (Lakeland High School).

Participants in the debutante-beautillion were, front row from left: Jameson Wilkinson (Lakeland High School), Essence Frazier (Lakeland High School), Lakiaya Aponte (Lakeland High School), Sharnice Sherrod (Lakeland High School), JaQuan Yulee (Indian River High School). Back row from left: Adriana Johnson (Lloyd C. Byrd High School), Marianna Ricks (Lakeland High School), Alexis Brown (Lloyd C. Byrd High School), Breonna Penn (Lakeland High School).

The Suffolk Chapter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. held its annual Debutante-Beautillion Presentation on Friday, April 29, at the Suffolk Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront.

This year marked the 45th year of the sorority’s annual scholarship presentation for graduating seniors. This program focuses on assisting potential scholars with the preparation for their post-secondary education.

Adriana Johnson and JaQuan Yulee were named queen and king of the event.

Adriana Johnson and JaQuan Yulee were named queen and king of the event.

Participating students hailed from Indian River, Lakeland and Lloyd C. Byrd high schools. The students, along with their sponsors and parents, worked for more than six months raising money for their scholarships. The students raised more than $32,000 collectively in scholarship funds.

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In the last 45 years, the Suffolk chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has continually aided young seniors with fundraising and professional development and will constantly push the participants to maintain good merit, grades and behavior while pursuing his or her studies and professional careers. Scholarship was constantly emphasized among the group of eager graduates, and the sorority shared its wisdom, scholarly attributes, etiquette training and more to the young community of future leaders.

The purpose of the presentation was to introduce the students to society at the proper time and in the proper manner as eligible young ladies and young men of our area. The presentation is one of the many activities sponsored by the sorority to raise funds for the annual scholarship fund, which is used to help worthy young people meet their financial obligations while enrolled in institutions of higher education.

Adriana Johnson, a senior from Lloyd C. Byrd High School, was named queen of the event. JaQuan Yulee, a senior from Indian River High School, was named king.

The sorority thanks the sponsors and parents who assisted the future graduates with the preparation for this event and their life after high school.